Havana, Cuba_ The Cuban search and rescue team which lent its support to the victims of the devastating earthquake in Ecuador last April 16, returned yesterday at midnight, the National News Agency reported.

The group, consisting of 29 technicians worked for 10 days in the northwestern coastal area affected by the earthquake of 7.8 degrees on the Richter scale, which caused great human and material losses to the South American nation.

Marcia Cobas, deputy minister of Public Health, Brigadier General Jose Luis Mesa, for the Ministry of Interior (MININT); Regla Angulo, director of the Central Unit of Medical Cooperation, and other executives of the Interior Ministry welcomed them at the airport.

Colonel Luis Carlos Guzman, head of the Fire Department of Cuba, stressed the importance of the mission accomplished, which besides helping to save lives, constituted a unique experience for the development of this work and congratulated the brigade’s members for the work carried out that although difficult, it showed the preparation of the Cuban forces.

Colonel Lazaro Herrera, head of the group, expressed their pride of arriving in the country with the conviction of having helped that Ecuadorian nation and recognized the high moral and discipline of the team, characterized by the cohesion, even among colleagues who had never worked together.

The deputy minister of Public Health, meanwhile, meant the uniqueness of this group, which in addition to the prompt response to the Ecuadorians, joined their forces to the doctor’s staff.

On April 17, just one day after the earthquake, Cuba sent to that nation a brigade of the "Henry Reeve" International Contingent of Doctors Specialized in dealing with disasters and serious epidemics, reinforced by the Search and Rescue team.

That group joined the more than 700 health staff who provide services permanently in the South American country, which were mobilized to assist the affected population.

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